Miller will be sentenced Nov. 3 for second-degree murder

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 14 October 2014 at 12:00 am

Miller

ALBION – The sentencing for a Carlton man found guilty of second-degree murder will be on Nov. 3.

Frederick Miller
was convicted of the crime on Sept. 17. That day sentencing was set for Oct. 8. But that date was a miscommunication by the court, court officials said this afternoon.

Miller will be sentenced by Orleans County Court Judge James Punch at 2 p.m. on Nov. 3. Miller faces a maximum of 25 years to life in prison.

Jurors found Miller guilty of second-degree murder during a trial last month. Jurors picked the more serious charge for Miller over a reduced charge of first-degree manslaughter.

Miller was 61 when he killed his girlfriend, Rachel Miller, stabbing her with scissors and then beating her with a snapped off “Posted” sign.

Miller’s attorney, Robert King, argued during the trial that his client was suffering from an “extreme emotional disturbance” due to the loss of work, the serious illness of his mother and “a relationship that was falling apart.”

District Attorney Joe Cardone refuted King’s claims, saying Miller wasn’t emotionally disturbed.

“This case is entirely about control,” the DA said in his closing arguments. “It is entirely about manipulation.”

Miller was angry when Rachel wanted to spend Easter in Georgia with family, with Miller left behind, Cardone said. She angered him when she brought home baby chicks on March 3, the day before she was killed. And Miller testified he was mad when she took a long shower that morning.

“It wasn’t about extreme emotional disturbance,” Cardone said. “It was about his extreme arrogance, it was about his extreme selfishness, it was about his extreme narcissism and his extreme need to have control of his life and Rachel Miller.”